The Tower of Babel has come to signify humanity's self-centred pursuit of power. We don't really need God, they seem to say, we can achieve greatness on our own. They cling tightly to what they think they have gained. Greatness can indeed be ours, but it will only come about through a relationship with the God who created us. Our division and confusion on earth is a consequence of our failure to learn this.

There is a story of a monkey with his hand caught in a jar full of nuts. His fist is so full that he can't pull his hand out. All he needs to do is let go and empty his hand, and all will be well. His greed and fear get the best of him, and he starves to death in the midst of plenty. We can be the same with our lives, for often fear and greed cause us to be competitive and possessive. We seek to preserve what we have because we fear losing it. In the end, we can lose everything. Jesus challenges us to stop our aggressive and frantic quest for power and immortality and commit ourselves to following Him. If we are faithful and trusting, we will have what we need. God will certainly not forget or abandon us, for in God there is no cause for fear. Jesus alludes to His own approaching moment of trust in God and abandonment to His will: His Passion. It is through His fidelity and trust that the Kingdom will come in power. Think of the great things God can accomplish through our faithful discipleship!